Converting aviation engines into gas turbines is becoming one of the leading solutions to overcome the energy deficit for rapidly expanding artificial intelligence data centers worldwide.
This is reported by Finway
- Leading companies are using jet engines to create gas turbines, which allows them to meet the growing demand for electricity for IT infrastructure.
- This initiative aims to reduce the capacity shortfall and address the issue of long wait times for traditional turbine supplies.
- The active development of the AI industry is attracting new players to the energy market and stimulating technological innovations.
In the context of rapidly increasing energy needs for data processing centers, more companies are turning to alternative sources of generation. One direction is the transformation of aviation jet engines into ground-based gas turbines for electricity production.
Converting Aircraft Engines for Energy: New Solutions
FTAI Aviation, which specializes in leasing and repairing aircraft engines, has announced the launch of a modified version of the Boeing 737 engine for electricity generation. These turbines are expected to begin operating in the energy market by 2026, providing solutions for powering AI data centers.
“Following the announcement of the launch of a new line of energy turbines in December 2025, the company’s stock rose by approximately 42%. However, subsequently, the securities faced a correction, and in pre-market trading on February 23, they were at $286, according to TradingView.”
Similar developments are being implemented by other companies. ProEnergy, for example, offers turbines based on Boeing 747 engines. Boom Supersonic also plans to supply power units for AI data centers, particularly in partnership with the startup Crusoe.
Converted jet engines are attractive due to their high power and reliability. Industry experts explain that there are two main ways to adapt them: converting the engines to natural gas and replacing a large fan with a smaller one optimized for electricity production.
FTAI Aviation President David Moreno notes that converting one engine into an energy turbine takes between 30 to 45 days, and the technology development took about 18 months.
Artificial Intelligence Stimulates the Turbine Market
Leading energy equipment manufacturers – GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – are already offering aeroderivative turbines. However, according to experts, their delivery times can extend to several years, creating space for new players with more agile solutions.
Each year, about 1600 aviation engines are retired from service, and they can be effectively converted for energy needs. This will help partially cover the electricity deficit for data centers, which require increasing amounts of power each year.
The rise in investments in artificial intelligence is increasing the demand for such alternative energy sources. It is estimated that global capital expenditures on AI infrastructure will exceed $700 billion by 2026. This stimulates the development of innovative technologies in the energy and electricity generation sectors.
It was previously reported that OpenAI plans to invest $600 billion in AI computing by 2030.